Mayor throws water on rumors fire chief was unfairly ousted

A person who comes to a point in their career where they can write their own ticket usually will.

That’s the opinion of Hillsboro Mayor Jerry Willey in response to rumors swirling that departing Hillsboro Fire Department Chief Gary Seidel was somehow forced out of his position by city administrators.

Seidel announced his retirement late last month, but his supporters — and there was a big crowd of them at Tuesday night’s Hillsboro City Council meeting — don’t want him to go.

Seidel, 59, said last month he was leaving at the end of February 2011 to spend more time with his grandchildren and pursue teaching and consulting opportunities.

But three people, most notably Hillsboro Firefighters Association president Larry Smith, expressed concern at the meeting that there was more to the departure of the nationally respected chief than Seidel could say.

“We hope personal agendas were not put above the city’s needs,” Smith said. Smith’s comments suggested displeasure on the part of employees in the department about Seidel’s early departure. “We were surprised by his recent announcement,” Smith said.

Seidel stoked the rumor mill Wednesday when he told the Argus that in the best interests of himself, the city and the fire department, it was agreed he would say nothing, and directed all questions to Mayor Willey.

Willey said the city recognized Seidel’s contributions to the city, and intends to continue to use his consulting expertise often to help maintain the reputation of the department in his absence.

While acknowledging there were some clashes in management style with city administration, Willey said Seidel’s decision was his own. Seidel’s national reputation affords him the opportunity to continue to make a very good living, while also collecting two retirement checks. Recently retired from accounting himself, Willey said no accomplished professional is blissfully happy every day, and the prospect of being one’s own boss can be irresistible.

“He can earn a significant income without dealing with the bureaucracy and management,” Willey said. “At some point, you will make the decision to take the path of least resistance.”

Willey said he also understood Seidel’s desire to stay above the supposed fray. Seidel will continue to live in Hillsboro, as will many members of his family, and he doesn’t want to draw the ire of the community.

“We’re all trying to be very politically correct,” Willey said. “If you want to stir the pot, it’s an easy thing to do. We don’t have a gag order on Gary.”

The fact Seidel’s departure comes less than six months after the retirement of former Police Chief Lila Ashenbrenner is merely coincidence, Willey said.

Both chiefs were highly visible, well-liked and respected, so it’s not surprising some of the old Hillsboro guard might jump to conclusions because they don’t like changing the leadership of two excellent departments.

The city now begins the process of looking for someone just like Seidel to replace him, Willey added. He noted there’s been barely a whisper of complaint since controversy swirled over the hiring of new Police Chief Carey Sullivan in May.

Well-run departments raise the level of sensitivity of those people who pay attention to these kinds of things, he said.

Tuesday, a group of about 60 firefighters and fire department supporters gathered in support of Seidel. Three addressed the Hillsboro City Council about their concerns regarding Seidel’s retirement.

“I’ve come here to ask you to persuade Fire Chief Gary Seidel to reconsider his early retirement,” Dr. Ken Logue told the mayor and councilors.

Seidel came to Hillsboro in 2004 after a 26-year career with the Los Angeles Fire Department, where he rose through the ranks to assistant chief.

Smith said he believes Seidel is “being pushed out. Everybody I’ve talked to feels like he’s being pushed out.”

Logue, a local dentist, also said he believes Seidel’s retirement announcement is premature. “I get the feeling that he’d rather be the chief,” Logue said.

Former Hillsboro interim chief Dennis England, now the chief at Washington County Fire District 2, told the council that he “strongly suggests you reconsider; that you do whatever it takes to keep this man on staff.”

Seidel’s resume in emergency operations and crisis management is extensive, having responded to many high profile disasters and tragedies around United States in the last 10 years including the 9/11 Twin Towers collapse in New York City and, more recently, the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.